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Thursday, February 21, 2013

Impact Crater: Plasma Storm

The most overpriced card of the current format!

Hello everyone!

Due to my very tight schedule with school, work, ECC and other things, the
Impact Crater of Plasma Storm is later than usual. Nonetheless, there are a lot
of interesting and potential cards in the set. Especially some cards are very (over)hyped.
I was a bit disappointed that Plasma Storm wasn’t allowed in the ECC,
because it shapes up the metagame quite a bit.

I think the main thing about Plasma Storm, is that even though some cards are
listed in the Impact Crater NOW, it doesn’t mean that the cards have an impact
NOW. Most of the cards in Plasma Storm get a lot better after the release of
BW8 and that’s when we are able to see the main potential of those cards.
However, thankfully there are also cards that will have an impact of the metagame
right now. Let’s see what Plasma Storm has to offer!

Hypnotoxic Laser + Virbank City Gym

Just like always, let’s start with
the most obvious one. Hypnotoxic Laser is just like a PlusPower, with the
exception that it poisons your opponent instead of adding 10 damage. On top of
that, if you flip heads, your opponent’s Pokémon will be asleep! Ok, so it’s a
bit better than PlusPower, so what’ s so good about it? Well, Vribank City Gym
is the card, which does the magic here. When Virbank City Gym is in play,
everyone puts 2 additional damage counters on the Pokémon, which are poisoned
between turns. Now, Hypnotoxic Laser is a 3 PlusPowers in one card! Not to
mention that if your opponent doesn’t retreat their Pokémon, it has lost
devastating 90 damage only because of Poison when it’s their turn again.

Of course, just like PlusPower, Hypnotoxic Laser will be mostly played in fast,
Basic decks. Probably the thing, which shakes up the balance of the metagame
the most is Darkrai EX being able to OHKO a Blastoise with Hypnotoxic Laser,
Virbank City Gym and Dark Claw. This will also give a very tough time for
Keldeo EXs. The first impression of these cards really is that Darkrai EX will
be stronger than ever and stage2 decks (especially Blastoise) will have tough
time surviving in the upcoming metagame.

There is of course a downside of this card combination as well. They will add
some more donks to the format and make evolution decks even less playable.
However, before you start ranting about how Basic decks are overpowered now – a
quick newsflash – Blastoise really wasn’t a “real” stage2 deck in my opinion. It
just accelerates the energy with Blastoise sitting on the bench, letting the
already good Basic EXs do the job for it. I never enjoyed Blastoise and am glad
to see that it will have a tougher time in the upcoming metagame. And when it
comes to Basic EX decks controlling the metagame, well, there is nothing we can
do about it as long as Pokémon keeps on printing overpowered EXs. You just have
to adjust to it and play the best decks in the format, if you are a competitive
player.

On the other hand, this combination will also give a new perspective for the
big EX mirrors. Keldeo EX will become a very popular tech, because if your
opponent happens flip heads from the Hypnotoxic Laser, you may be in trouble if
you don’t have a way to get your Pokémon from the special conditions. Even
Audino may see some play even though it only removes one Special Condition.

Lugia EX (Plasma)

The most expensive card. It must be good then! Yes? Yes? Nope. Half of
Lugia EXs price come from it being a Lugia EX (a collector’s dream) and the
other half come from the hype it has received. Getting 1 additional prize is of
course, but just when looking at the attack, you’ll notice that it lacks
something. First of all, it needs 4 energy for its attack. Not only this is a
huge energy cost for a EX without a proper energy acceleration, it also
requires a Plasma Energy on to it to attack! If you want to play Lugia EX in
your deck, you must build the whole deck around it, because not many decks can
abuse Plasma Energy at the moment. In fact, the only card that can really abuse
Plasma Energy is Lugia EX and can you build a proper tier1 deck around an EX
Pokémon that can only hit 4 times during a game? I think you know the answer.

The reason why it’s in the big Impact Crater is obvious – it will be good in
the future. Thundurus EX is enough to make Lugia EX playable, because it can
get Plasma Energy from the discard pile. Something no really playable card is
able to do at the moment.

Black Kyurem EX

Pokémon that can hit for 200, yes please. Usually Pokémon such as Black
Kyurem EX are forever alone, because they can’t find a good partner with them. But
thankfully, Black Kyurem rewuires LWWC for its attack, so all you have to do is
put a Kyurem into your Blastoise deck and you have the most fearsome combo of
the format in your hands. Granted, discarding 3 energy is a big nuisance and at
the moment, Black Kyurem EX won’t be in its full potential, but once again you
have to wait one more set to see Black Kyurem EXs full power. With Super Energy
Retrieval, energy accelerating Black Kyurem EX becomes too easy.

Even though, I’m not a fan of Crystal Wall, because it’s a Tool Ace Spec, it
can be very devastating with this Black Kyurem EX. A Pokémon that is able to
hit 200 and has 300HP is not a laughing matter. I mean seriously -300HP! I
wonder, if I ever live to see the day when Wailord EX has 1000HP. I sure hope
not.

Colress

Colress is a card that I don’t
really know what to think of. When you open with it and have a basicless hand,
you want to scream, but when you get the Colress in the mid –or late game, it
can turn the game in your favor. At its worst Colress draws 0 cards. At its
best, 10 cards. At the moment, I run 2 Colress in most of my decks just due the
fact that it’s broken in the late game. That is, as long as your opponent has a
lot of Basic Pokémon on the bench.

What I especially enjoy about Colress, is that it bring new kind of skill back
to the game. When playing with Darkrai EX deck, you could just thin out your
deck and play all the Darkrai EXs on the bench and not really care about
anything. However, after the introduction of Colress, it really matters how
many Pokémon you have on your bench. If you don’t run Corless, you don’t want
to play ANY additional Basics on your bench, because every Pokémon on your
bench is one more card for your opponent. And the one additional card can be
the card, which wins your opponent the game.

Colress Machine

Colress Machine is almost bad at the moment, because there aren’t that many
Plasma Pokémon in the format, but it will soon get very good. Attaching 2
energy per turn is never bad, and when you combine it with the best Plasma
Pokémon, you will get yourself a very good card.

The one thing I want to emphasize about Colress Machine is that, it isn’t
equivalent of Energy Gain of SP Pokémon. The reason for this is that Enhanced
Hammers will probably become more popular due the increased amount of special
energy in the format and that Colress Machine is completely useless if you don’t
have Plasma Energy in your deck. Especially in the late game, Colress Machines
will prove to be completely dead cards, because you probably have already
played all your Plasma Energy. Unless you are building a T1 deck, you should
never play more than 3 Colress Machines, the 4th will ALWAYS be a
dead draw.

Dowsing Machine Vs. Scramble Switch

I can easily say that Scramble Switch is probably the most underrated card
of the whole set. I was SHOCKED to see that Dowsing Machine was more expensive
than Scramble Switch in all the internet card stores. As soon as I saw that, I
went buying some Scramble Switches before the price increases. You can’t really
theorymon these cards, but if you think that Dowsing Machine than Scramble
Switch, I suggest to give a try for Scramble Switch. You’ll notice that it will
grow to you very quickly and soon you will wonder how did you live without
Scramble Switch before you had it.

When it comes to the Dowsinh Machine, it’s popularity probably becomes from the
viability of Junk Arm. However, I think it’s good to remember that when Junk
Arm wasn’t a staple, almost no decks played it! Some – in my opinion bad –
LuxChomp lists played one copy of Junk Arm, but I think there were better cards
for that one open spot. And it’s the same now. You can play only one ACE Spec.
in your decks and you don’t really want to give the space for a card like Dowsing
Machine, which will be a life-saver only in random situations.

You must also not to forget just how good Scramble Switch becomes thanks to
Hypnotoxic Laser and the increase amount of Special Conditions in the format.
One additional Switch is never a bad thing since mobility is everything in a
quick-paced metagame like this.

Ether

Ether lost its chance to be the great new card. Since it wasn’t released in
the new set, Virbank City Gym and Hypnotoxic Laser will take over all the decks
now and Ether + Pokedex engine doesn’t have the space needed. It’s pretty
ironic that one set can make such a big difference. I’m being negative here and
say that Ether will be forgotten before it even become popular. All the decks
have too many cards they want to play and Ether and Pokedex are the first cards
to being cut from the decks.

We’ll see if I’m right about this, but I’m pretty sure that I am. Ether is theorymon
card at its best and isn’t able to live up to its hype anymore. This may of
course exclude the T1 decks like T1 Darkrai EX variants, which some players
might try out.

The
Small Impact Crater

In the small Impact Crater lies the cards that have
only small impact to the format, but which are worth mentioning, because they
are interesting and potential.

Klinklang (Plasma)

All the Klinklangs are the same. As
long as the metagame is against them and people are prepared for them, they can
do nothing, but if people have forgotten about them… Then Klinklang will start wreaking
havoc. It was the same with the BW Klinklang, which won the U.S. Nationals
since there wasn’t enough Hammertimes (at least against the Klinklang) and it’s
still the same. If a Plasma Klinklang deck faces a pure EX deck like Mewtwo
EX/Landorus EX, it’s almost an autowin for Klinklang. The 1-2 Terrakions or
Bouffalants won’t be able to take the necessary 6 prizes.

In Japan, people have started to play Victini (the one that hits 100 damage) in
their decks if they don’t have any other answer against Klinklang.
Overreacting? Maybe, but at least they turn one autoloss match-up to an autowin
match-up and in the end that can make or break the whole tournament.

Victini EX

Victini EX reminds of the good ol’ days, because it only has 110HP even
though it’s an EX Pokémon. Due to its HP, it’s a very risky play, but
thankfully it’s only a support Pokémon – a starter to be precise – and not a
bench sitter like e.g. Celebi EX. Even though attaching two energy in one turn
is very legit, I’m not a fan of Victini EX and the reason for this is the TOO
low HP of Victini EX. Granted, Victini EX is at the moment one of the only
cards that can abuse the full capability of Lugia EX, but it still can’t make
Lugia EX based deck to win a Darkrai EX deck – which will be the most popular
deck in the upcoming metagame.

Victini EX is highly interesting and I’m 100% sure that it will see play someday.
But not today.

Manaphy

Manaphy is my favorite starter of the set. I already have a Speed Keldeo EX
deck planned with Manaphy and it has worked extremely well in the test games.
If I get bored with the metagame decks, maybe I’ll give the deck a try. Manaphy
is only playable during this one short period of time, because after Thundurus
EX is released, there is no point of playing Manaphy. So, I must make the most
out of Manaphy, while I still can! Combine it with Fliptini and you have a
great starter for any Water attacker.

Gallade

Gallades are almost always good. This Gallade is also good. To be more
precise, it’s OK. Making 20x for each energy in play is an attack that would
have been a very strong attack for almost any Pokémon in Pokémon TCG history,
but now it’s not enough. Remember the 300 HP Kyurem? You would need 15 energy
to OHKO it and even 8 energy to 2HKO it. Crazy! Not to mention Darkrai EX,
which has a resistance to Gallade and requires 10 energy if you want to OHKO
it. In addition, Gallade only has 130HP and is a stage2 Pokémon. And you should
somehow be able to fit an energy accelerator to the deck!? Just how in the
world should that be possible with a power creep like this?

Snorlax (Plasma)

Snorlax is one of my favorite Pokémon of the set and it’s not, because of
its attack, but its Ability. Preventing your opponent from retreating is always
cool and it can be very good in situations, you might not be able to even
image! The only drawback in Snorlax’s Ability is that it has to be the active Pokémon,
so one Catcher is one to get rid from the lock. However, once (if) Catcher is
rotated out, Snorlax will be able to create a stall deck, you have never seen!
I’m really looking forward for that day.

Conclusion

With Plasma Storm, we get
everything we wanted to get from Boundaries Crossed and more! However, the set
still has a LOT of filler cards and once again includes over 130 cards. In
order to get a good amount of the cards you want to get, you must buy at least
3 boxes. The other option is to trade the cards you want, but what I noticed in
the ECC, everyone wanted the same cards! “Do you have any Hypnotoxic Lasers for
trade?”. Well what do you think…

The most impactful cards of the set will by far be the PoisonCombo and Scramble
Switch. Or at least, they will be the most played in the States Championships.
I really want the next set to be smaller, so it would be prudent for a poor
player like me to buy boxes as well and not just singles.

Thanks for reading and feel free to comment on anything! Especially if you
think that I missed any card from the set. And what’s your opinion about the
ACE Spec. war? Who shall rise victorious?

17 comments:

Well pretty much agree on everything that is here (skimmed through the small impact crater but w/e). Just want to ask if you could specify how big of a difference you think there is in running Scramble Switch and Computer Search. Obviously depends on the deck, but I would say Computer Search, while less powerful, I would favor it over Scramble Switch in most decks not named Landorus/Mewtwo.

About Klinklang do you think people should play like 3 Hammers in their Darkrai/Sableye/Poison decks to combat Klinklang if they think it will see play or do you need more or less or Victiny?

I do think the Ace Spec war does depend on the deck, you've just go to weigh the advantages of each, I'm currently running CobalionEX/Klinklang and use Dowsing Machine.

My reasoning was that I run pretty much every card in high multiples, a lot of deaw support, 4 Skyla and 2 Tropical Beach so I don't feel I need Computer Swarch to get to anything more quickly.

I have a heavy line of Switch/Escape Rope and BW Klinklang tech so I don't see me needing Scramble Switch, I could just run another switch and Dowsing Machine gives me access to an extra.

Because I have a BW Klinklang I have the option of running Max Potion so I think Gold Potion would be a waste of my Axe Spec slot.

Overall Dowsing Machine seemed the best choice and the situation has come up a lot where I have 4 Catcher in my discard pile and so the opponent thinks a bench EX with damage on is ok and I Dowsing Machine back one for game.

Overall I do think you can always put them in a list of usefulness but that list differs for each deck.

I agree that the most underrated ace spec is scramble switch. I love that card, and it has won we a bunch of games. I wouldn't use it in decks that can move energy easy. But it's still a great surprise. And can swing games in a big way. Also it pairs well with max potion.

I am not your typical player though, I run Lugia ex in my ray eels deck. That surprise gets them every time. I play against lots of Darkrai Sableye, and taking two prizes off sableye is great.

Anonymous1: I think Hammers are enough against any deck without energy acceleration. Unlimited Poison and Hammers are enough against most decks.

When it comes to the ACE Spec. war in general, it's true that it's mostly dependant on the deck, but I would usually favor Scramble Switch or Computer Search. However, of course there are some decks, where Dowsing Machine could to the much needed trick.

Also, Articuno EX isn't playable. Most people will have a way to get rid of Special Conditions due to the Hypnotoxic Laser, so paralyzing isn't the way to win games. It's probably one of the worst EXs of the set.

I'll also make the article about Speed Keldeo in the following weeks. Look for it!

Anonymous: Crobat isn't really playable sorry : ( I don't want to advice for you to play Crobat, because it can't really be competitive in the current format, because it's a stage2 Pokémon. If you want to play Virbank with a Poison Pokémon, I think almost anything is better than Crobat!